Industrial Technicians Research Articles

Research on Efficient and Precise Manufacturing of Cam Indexing Mechanism

Efficient precision is an eternal theme in the field of manufacturing. Based on the data of experiment and trial production, this paper analyzes the key technologies in the 2017 BRICS Skill Development and Technology Innovation Competition - NC Multi-axis Coordinated Machining of Complex Parts. In this paper, the processing and manufacturing process of the three core components of the base plate, indexing plate and camshaft in the indexing mechanism of cam are systematically and comprehensively analyzed from the aspects of shape, technology, toolpath setting and machine tool operation. Detailed and reliable data. Practice has proved that the process strategy is efficient, sophisticated, and reliable to participate in the relevant technical skills competition contestants and industry technicians have a strong reference.

Acute pneumonitis associated with nickel carbonyl exposure in the workplace

Background: We describe the clinical course of one industrial technician occupationally exposed to nickel carbonyl (NiC).Case report: A 50-year-old male industrial technician presented with complaints of nausea, myalgia, and cough to a local clinic after suspected occupational exposure to nickel carbonyl. He has no history of lung disease or smoking. His initial urine nickel concentration was 692 ug/L. He had infiltrates on the initial chest X-ray (CXR) and an oxygen saturation (O2) of 97% on room air. The patient was started on disulfiram 1 g by mouth (PO), 500 mg six hours after the first dose, then 250 mg twice daily for five days with prednisone 60 mg by mouth for five days. He presented 48 hours later with worsening respiratory symptoms. His O2 saturation decreased to 85% despite two days of oral steroids, and he was admitted to a hospital. He received prednisone 60 mg/day PO, 4 L nasal O2, and disulfiram 500 mg twice daily. He was discharged on day 7 post-exposure with disulfiram and prednisone.Case discussions: NiC is a severe respiratory irritant. Disulfiram was used off-label and was based on an established company protocol.Conclusions: Inhalation exposure to NiC resulted in a delayed respiratory dysfunction which responded to disulfiram treatment.

Thermal Design and Rating of a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using a Matlab® GUI

Objectives: To design and rate a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using a Matlab® GUI and assess it with the evaluation guide ISO/IEC 9126-1 Methods/Statistical analysis: The general procedure is initiated by estimating the heat flow, the thermal properties and some dimensionless numbers in heat transfer based on the caloric temperature for the fluids. Finally, the films and overall heat transfer coefficients were used to estimate the heat transfer area, which is needed to calculate the approximate size of the equipment, and therefore its cost, been this goal a powerful tool for engineering education. Findings: The student can see the effect of the dirt factor, the geometrical configuration, the thickness of the tubes, and the flow velocity inside or outside the tubes, etc., on the resistance of the total heat exchange between the fluids to later carry out laboratory experiences where they can compare the results and give a better explanation of the profiles obtained with the variable chosen to be studied. It can help engineering students to be more creative in finding different ways to increase the efficiency of heat exchangers or in the design of new ones. Using the program, it was determined the lowest obstruction factor to the heat transfer as a function of BWG number and external tube diameter, the correction factor of the log mean temperature difference and the Dittus and Boelter, and Sieder and Tate parameters. It was confirmed the importance of the software in the student learning process according to the software quality requirements and evaluation guide ISO/ IEC 9126-1. Application/Improvements: The GUI let students to reach the heat transfer educational objectives and the program outcomes expected for new engineers improving the communication between design engineers and technicians in industry.

Challenges of seismic imaging in complex media around Iran, from Zagros overthrust in the southwest to Gorgan Plain in the northeast

Seismic imaging is an old but immature technology in Iran. Several reasons for this act as obstacles in developing and applying newly introduced imaging methods for complex media. Ease of exploration of large reservoirs by geologic methods, dominance of petroleum geologists in seismic geologic interpretation, distrust between industrial technicians and academic researchers, and poor computational infrastructures are major reasons for the backwardness of seismic imaging methods in Iran. The high degree of complexity in the geologic condition of oil-field-bearing areas could be another reason for obtaining poor seismic images. In the general study of literature of seismic imaging in Iran, through time and over different geologic conditions, obstacles impeding the lack of development of seismic imaging can be classified in technical and nontechnical areas. In the first step, it is acknowledged that harsh topography and poor supervision of acquisition build the first and unfortunately irreversible ring in this chain. Subsequently, in processing as the second step, the application of very old-fashioned processing methods on data suffering from high levels of various noise and the application of simple and useless methods for migration prevent obtaining any appropriate final images for further realistic geologic interpretation. In the third step, interpretation is mostly performed on very low-quality images, which will result in an ambiguous interpretation with a large amount of uncertainty in defining geologic objects, location, and even correct and accurate recognition of geologic objects. The main challenge is to get rid of time imaging and geologic interpretation on time images, which is rather an unusual issue these days. Examples of the application of advanced imaging methods on data from different geologic conditions around Iran show that these obstacles could be removed if a proper imaging strategy were selected.

Simplified performance estimation of ISM-band, OFDM-based WSNs according to the sensitivity/SINAD parameters

A novel method is proposed to estimate committed information rate (CIR) variations in typical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless local area networks (WLANs) that are applied in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and operate within the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency bands. The method is based on the observation of a phenomenon of which the significance has not previously been recognized nor documented; here termed the service level differential zone (SLDZ). This method, which conforms to the ITU-T Y.1564 test methodology, provides the means to set a committed information rate (CIR) reference for IEEE 802.11a/g/n OFDM systems in terms of committed throughput bandwidth between a test node and an access point (AP) at a specific range. An analytical approach is presented to determine the relationship between the maximum operating range (in metres) of a wireless sensor network for a specific committed throughput bandwidth, and its link budget (in dB). The most significant contributions of this paper are the analytical tools to determine wireless network capabilities, variations and performance in a simplified method, which does not require specialized measurement equipment. With these it becomes possible for industrial technicians and engineers (who are not necessarily information technology (IT) network experts) to field analyze OFDM WLANs and so qualify their performance in terms of Y.1564 specified service level agreement (SLA) requirements, as well as in terms of the widely acceptable sensitivity/SINAD parameters.

Towards sustainable systems configurations: application to an existing fish and seafood canning industry

Spain is the first fish and seafood canning producer country in the European Union. Within Spain, the Galician (North-western Spain) canning enterprises dominate the market, being tuna the main species processed in the Spanish fish and seafood canning industries. In this context, this paper analyzes a Galician fish and seafood canning enterprise from the point of view of sustainability. To this end, an existing methodology combining Material and Energy Flow Analysis and Best Available Techniques analysis was enhanced, including for the first time the Exergy Analysis to detect the Improvable Flows of the process and to propose techniques that can minimize the environmental effects of these flows. The final methodology has been applied to a tuna canning process, resulting in the identification of 16 improvable flows, and the selection through best available techniques analysis of 14 alternatives to enhance the process. The application of the methodology developed in this work to an industrial system provides a way to detect material, energy or exergy improvable flows in a process, allowing industrial technicians into selecting the more suitable modifications to implement in their processes, in order to get its optimal alternative.

Specificity Of Long-Term Unemployment Risk Among Creative Economy Workers

This paper investigates the determinants of long-term unemployment in Poland for workers in the creative economy. Over 2,100 unemployed artists, journalists, architects, designers, craftspeople and creative industry technicians registered in public employment agencies are examined to discover the relationship between the probability of long-term unemployment and basic socio-demographic variables, human capital characteristics, as well as type of the local labour market. The outcomes based on the sample of creative workers are compared to a study of almost 44,000 registered unemployed representing all professions. Results indicate that such characteristics as: male gender, age under 30, married, first unemployed registration within the last three years, extensive work experience, high qualifications and multi-skilling each considerably decrease the likelihood of being unemployed for more than 365 days, both among creative workers and among all unemployed. The strength of this influence, however, differs within these two groups, with some co-variates significantly affecting the likelihood of long-term unemployment in the general sample. For example health, having children, or a willingness to take any job all appear to be non-significant for creative workers.

Pedagogical Strategies for Training Future Technicians in American Aviation Schools

Abstract The article is devoted to the question of improvement of quality and efficiency of professional training of future technicians in aviation industry in the American educational establishments. Main attention is paid to the studies of pedagogical technologies, which are used for the sake of qualitative and efficient training of specialists of aviation industry. The main purpose of vocational education and training is to help students to develop a way of thinking that would enable them in understanding the technical systems and master learning at the conceptual level. It is a well known fact that researches of pedagogical technologies are aimed at the development of mental models. They are important because: first - they make possible a reduction of time for training.That is rather essential taking into account the fact how much time the “transformation” of a student’s level of knowledge from a novice to an experienced worker takes. The researches of pedagogical technologies help to find a optimum ways for acquisition of expert type of thinking. Secondly, pedagogical technologies help to cut down expenses on training. This is especially topical during professional training of technicians, who are to better understand structural, functional, behavioral aspects of technical systems. In addition, they must effectively operate in troubleshooting in the system which also shortens financial expenses on the maintenance of equipment.

Practical use of variographics to identify losses and evaluate investment profitability in industrial processes

Author Summary: This work illustrates variographic analysis applied to industrial production processes to identify and reduce adverse production deviations (over-specification, loss) and evaluate profitability. A first example concerns production of light-weight expanded clay aggregates (Exclay), produced in cement-like rotary kilns. Clay raw material is heated to 1150 °C to be expanded. An adverse periodicity was observed in a specific plant cooler manifested as fluctuations in the material volume (height level) causing a periodic variance in the production output from the kiln. This problem must be resolved by instigating a more stable cooler, which could in fact be engineered by a very small investment of about 5,000 Euro. A variogram characterization was carried out to evaluate the amplitude of the periodicity, and the quantities involved (losses), which information was used to calculate the investment pay-back time. From the variogram it was observed that the reduced kiln output volume was at least 0.7%. During one year with improved cooler level control, this translates into savings of about 100,000 Euro, i.e. a pay-back time will be less than one month. A second example is from a LRM-project (Loss and Reduction Model) at a plant producing bagged pre-mixed mortars, in which the variance of the weight of the produced bags was found to be consistently too large. A pilot variographic analysis was applied with an aim to identify the root causes of this problem (three filling stations at the same line were investigated, all with identical filling systems and scales): Two stations were found to have a total material loss of 1.2%, while the third was running perfectly well (low V(0) and low sill), but with a too high set point. The technical resolution shows that it is possible to reduce material loss with existing equipment by improved monitoring/recording routines but no need to acquire new expensive belt scales a.o. For two of the stations V(0) (MPE) was in fact at a level almost identical to the sill making it structurally impossible to keep bag weight within specifications. Recurrent monitoring of V(0) and moving average smoothing should be evaluated at the very many similar production lines in the multinational corporation involved to gain improved process control to reduce overfilling. While relatively small on the basis of an individual filling line, the potential accumulated corporate savings take on a quite different economic significance. Variographic analysis is a powerful tool for industrial technicians and process engineers to improve processes —and in the present cases for industrial managers as well for evaluating ultimate investment profitability in industrial processes.

Time-Wise Change in Neck Pain in Response to Rehabilitation with Specific Resistance Training: Implications for Exercise Prescription

PurposeTo determine the time-wise effect of specific resistance training on neck pain among industrial technicians with frequent neck pain symptoms.MethodsSecondary analysis of a parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial of 20 weeks performed at two large industrial production units in Copenhagen, Denmark. Women with neck pain >30 mm VAS (N = 131) were included in the present analysis. The training group (N = 77) performed specific resistance training for the neck/shoulder muscles three times a week, and the control group (N = 54) received advice to stay active. Participants of both groups registered neck pain intensity (0–100 mm VAS) once a week.ResultsNeck pain intensity was 55 mm (SD 23) at baseline. There was a significant group by time interaction for neck pain (F-value 2.61, P<0.001, DF = 19). Between-group differences in neck pain reached significance after 4 weeks (11 mm, 95% CI 2 to 20). The time-wise change in pain showed three phases; a rapid decrease in the training group compared with the control group during the initial 7 weeks, a slower decrease in pain during the following weeks (week 8–15), and a plateau during the last weeks (week 16–20). Adherence to training followed a two-phase pattern, i.e. weekly participation rate was between 70–86% during the initial 7 weeks, dropping towards 55–63% during the latter half of the training period.ConclusionFour weeks of specific resistance training reduced neck pain significantly, but 15 weeks is required to achieve maximal pain reduction. The time-wise change in pain followed a three-phase pattern with a rapid effect during the initial 7 weeks followed by a slower but still positive effect, and finally a plateau from week 15 and onwards. Decreased participation rate may explain the decreased efficacy during the latter phase of the intervention.

Knowledge management through the e-learning approach – a case study of online engineering courses

Though it is universally accepted that the face-to-face approach is the best way for education and training, however, with the advent of the information and communication technologies (mainly the World Wide Web) it became possible to enhance further the methods we are using to teach our students and to share the teaching material within a broaden engineering, technical and business communities. This paper is dedicated to making a review of the basic concepts of knowledge management and e-learning and to show how these two modern concepts can be integrated into engineering education to produce knowledge, disseminate it and share it within virtual interest groups and networks of engineering students, academic teachers and industrial engineers and technicians and business managers. A practical case study will be presented and discussed.

The politics of vocational training of industrial technicians in Spain, 1924–30

In this study, I examine the extent to which technical education served to form a new middle class of industrial technicians during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera in Spain. The principal means of achieving this, the Industrial Education Statute of 1924 and the Vocational Training Statute of 1928, were aimed at the working classes and the petty bourgeoisie. The intention was that both groups would support the State’s social and corporative system whilst at the same time promoting the country’s modernization. The great gap between economic and social reality, however, led to the failure of this educational project.

Effect of specific resistance training on forearm pain and work disability in industrial technicians: cluster randomised controlled trial

ObjectivesTo determine the effect of specific resistance training on forearm pain and work disability in industrial technicians.Design and settingTwo-armed cluster randomised controlled trial of 20 weeks performed at two industrial...

Pacemaker syndrome and pseudo-ventricular high threshold after dual-chamber pacemaker replacement

We report a 60-year-old male patient who presented with pacemaker syndrome. The patient had recent dual-chamber pacemaker replacement. Surface ECG and endocavitary electrograms were compatible with leads connection inversion. Device interrogation showed pseudo-ventricular high threshold. Dual-chamber pacemaker leads inversion in a pacer-dependent patient can lead to life-threatening complications. Industry technicians should not perform device technical assistance when unsupervised by physicians with expertise.

Cambridge illustrated handbook of optoelectronics and photonics

From fundamental concepts to cutting-edge applications, this is the first encyclopedic reference of important terms and effects in optoelectronics and photonics. It contains broad coverage of terms and concepts from materials to optical devices and communications systems. Self-contained descriptions of common tools and phenomena are provided for undergraduate and graduate students, scientists, engineers and technicians in industry and laboratories. The book strikes a balance between materials and devices related coverage and systems level terms, and captures key nomenclature used in the field. Equations are used where necessary, and lengthy derivations are avoided. Over 600 clear and self-explanatory illustrations are used to help convey key concepts, and enable readers to quickly grasp important concepts.

A Call for Curriculum Design of Music Industry Technicians for Thailand Vocational Education Institutions

A Call for Curriculum Design of Music Industry Technicians for Thailand Vocational Education Institutions

A study on manufacturing of aluminum automotive piston by thixoforging

The manufacture of many products related to the automobile and airplane industries by semi-solid forming is nowadays increasing from environmental and economical points of view. Especially in the automobile industry, to upgrade engine capability and reduce engine weight, the aluminum engine piston has already been developed by researchers and industrial technicians. Currently, forming methods to manufacture engine piston are casting, squeeze casting and hot forging. These methods, however, include several casting defects and need post machining as well. In this study, aluminum engine piston will be manufactured by thixoforging according to forming variables. In addition, it is very important to find the effects of forming variables on the final product by thixoforging. In order to determine the effects, however, researchers and industrial technicians have depended upon many experimental trials. In this study, a statistical approach for thixoforging has been adopted to improve experimental efficiency. Forming variables such as initial solid fraction, die temperature, and compression holding time were considered for manufacturing aluminum engine piston by thixoforging. Hardness and microstructure characterization were carried out so that the optimal forming condition could be found by the statistical approach. The experiment to make aluminum engine piston was performed under the optimal condition found by the statistical approach.

A STUDY OF FAULT DIAGNOSIS AND RECOVERY TECHNIQUES FOR MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

The paper describes a framework for the development of a diagnosis methodology for industrial manufacturing systems. The aim of the project is to support technicians that supervise the manufacturing plant to identify the causes of faults and failures on the machine and, in particular, to indicate a procedure for the recovery of its working condition. The requirements described in the paper have been defined giving particular care to the peculiarities of the application domain, in order to allow the design of a powerful, but easy to use for industrial technicians, diagnostic system.

The crucial charter

With a greater need for highly qualified technicians in today's coloration industry, the Society's chartered colourist status is recognised to indicate employees who are of the highest calibre. Mike Lomas considers the benefits to be derived from CCol.

THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND THE WORK SITUATION: A COMPARISON OF FINLAND AND ESTONIA

The article compares the work situations of five occupational groups in Finland and Estonia: industrial workers, clerical employees, technicians, teachers and managers. The main concern is with the structuration of the work situation, of which four aspects are given central attention: 1) objective characteristics, 2) the reproduction situation, 3) the nature of work, and 4) developmental aspects of work and the subjective experiences of qualification requirements. The main differences between the two countries are summarised as follows: 1) Wage differentials between occupational groups are greater in Finland than in Estonia. The differences between genders are greater in Estonia. In Estonia relative incomes are highest among industrial workers, in Finland among managers. 2) In all occupational groups Estonian workers have a higher educational level than colleagues in Finland. 3) All occupational groups experience more mental and physical stress in Finland than in Estonia. 4) Finnish managers have more decision-making authority than their Estonian colleagues, but Estonian workers have supervisory and task authority more often than do Finnish workers.